The Morning I Became a Suspect: 25 Years After 9/11

The Morning I Became a Suspect: 25 Years After 9/11

This Friday marks 25 years since the attacks of September 11th, a day I will never forget. A few minutes before 6 a.m. Pacific time, a friend in another state called and told me to turn on the television. The first plane had struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. Eastern time. I turned on the news to see what had happened, and less than 20 minutes later, I watched the second plane hit the South Tower…In that moment, I was simply a horrified American watching my country under attack, while at the same time knowing what it meant for me as a Muslim. Within hours, I would become a suspect, a spokesperson, and an explainer of a faith practiced peacefully by nearly two billion people around the world.  Read more.

Also this week: Rabbi Dana Magat and Maha Elgenaidi co-authored an editorial in The Mercury News, “Online or off, hatred has no place here in Silicon Valley,” on standing together against antisemitism and Islamophobia. Read it here.

Teaching 9/11 at 25: Lesson Plans for a Generation Born After

Downloaded in dozens of states across the U.S., as well as in Europe and Australia, our updated Lesson Plans on 9/11 and its Impact on America and Beyond, designed for grades 7–12 and college classrooms, are now available in three formats to fit any teaching schedule: a comprehensive 5-day unit, a condensed 3-day version, and a focused 1-day lesson. Access all three here. 

Our partners at  9/11 Day · September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance  also offer educator resources: Education · 9/11 Day

Other teaching resources:

• New Islamophobia Presentation with Notes and Handout. The presentation comes with complete notes for each slide and an accompanying handout titled Educator Response Scripts for Everyday Moments for your use in classrooms. Access it here: www.ing.org/islamophobia
  
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Islam and Muslims. Written for readers who are curious, uncertain, or even skeptical, the answers engage even the hardest questions, from what Sharia actually is to Islamic teachings on war and peace and what it means to be both Muslim and American. Access them here: www.ing.org/faqs
  
• Engage with our Speakers in Seminars and Panels. Offered to school classrooms, educators, universities, workplaces, law enforcement agencies, healthcare systems, and community organizations nationwide, our speakers bring diverse topics to life. To learn more or request a presentation or panel, visit: www.ing.org/schedule-speakers

Workshops for Muslim Communities and Muslim Youth in Grades 6–12

In March 2002, just 25% of Americans said Islam was more likely than other religions to encourage violence. Today, that figure stands at 51%, more than double.

In a new report marking the 25th anniversary, Pew Research Center concludes that, “by some measures, public attitudes toward Islam have become more negative than they were immediately after the 9/11 attacks.” The report also finds that 43% of Americans believe Muslims are less patriotic than other Americans, and 42% say Muslim Americans have a negative impact on the country.

These findings underscore the urgent need for thoughtful, effective public education about Islam and Muslims, and for approaches that build understanding rather than deepen division.

Bring ING to your community. Write to [email protected] to request either or both of the following workshops:

• Community Outreach Workshop. A practical training for mosques and Muslim organizations on effective approaches to educating fellow Americans about Islam and Muslims in interfaith settings and public institutions. Participants come away with concrete tools and strategies for engaging diverse audiences, addressing misconceptions, navigating difficult questions, and fostering greater understanding across differences.
  
• INGYouth Workshop. An orientation to our tools for Muslim youth in grades 6–12, including our four INGYouth presentations, each now accompanied by a complete presenter script, and our answers to the questions Muslim youth are asked most often.

With gratitude, 
The ING Team